Travel Tips for Reykjavík, Iceland

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 5/5 for solo female travellers

Iceland is up there as one of my favourite trips to date, and I cannot recommend this country enough for anyone planning a solo trip. I travelled and stayed in Reykjavík, and took a day trip along the south coast to Grindavík, Vík and Höfn.

Not only was I fascinated with the country’s beautiful scenery, but also the history of the settlement by Viking explorers. Geologically, Iceland started to form about 20 million years ago from a series of volcanic eruptions.

I would recommend a visit for 3 or 4 days, but book for longer of course if you want to travel around more parts of the country. I felt very safe in Reykjavík, including at night.

How to get there

You can fly direct from Dublin to Keflavík International Airport in Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavík via Fly Play or Icelandair (this is the airline I flew with). The flight is about 2 hours 40 minutes.

Language, Currency & Weather

Icelandic is the main language in Reykjavík, however the majority of Icelanders speak fluent English. The currency is the Icelandic króna, however I primarily used my visa debit card or Apple Pay.

The weather in Iceland is quite cold during winter, and can reach almost 12 or 13 degrees Celsius in summer. Therefore, I would recommend bringing warm clothing whenever you go, and make sure they are rain-proof. 

Public Transport

Reykjavík has an excellent public transport system, which is called Strætó in Icelandic. You can travel by bus to and from the airport, and the journey takes about 45 minutes.

While in the city, you can buy a city card which allows for 24, 48 or 72 hours of unlimited travel. However, I walked most of the city to really take in its beauty.

Where To Stay

Accommodation in Reykjavík is expensive, but it is possible to find some good deals.

If you are looking for luxury I would recommend Reykjavik Marina, Berjaya Iceland Hotels in Vesturbær or Hotel Ísland, Spa & Wellness Hotel.

If you are looking for something a bit cheaper, I would advise you to book 101 Guesthouse Hotel or Heart House Guesthouse.

If you are on a budget, there are a few hostels to choose from, including Hostel B47 and Kex Hostel.

Where To Go & What To Do

There are lots of activities and sights to visit when in Reykjavík, so it’s important to plan your trip wisely. Apart from walking around and exploring this cool city, I would highly suggest you visit the Blue Lagoon, as well as booking a whale watching and Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) cruise.

I would also advise you to book a whale watching cruise, a foodie adventure walking tour and a Katla Ice Cave tour, as well as exploring the National Museum of Iceland.

Day trips are brilliant while in Reykjavík, so I would recommend booking the Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater or the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Full-Day Trip. These tours will bring you to and from the city, usually via bus.

I chose the latter due to time constraints and I travelled to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon outlet of the largest glacier in Europe, as well as stopping at the gorgeous waterfall Seljalandsfoss. I also visited the Diamond beach with black sand, and Iceland’s southernmost village at Vík, where I had dinner.

What & Where To Eat

As I mentioned earlier, I think it’s very important to book a foodie adventure walking tour when you’re in Reykjavík, to get a real sense of the different cuisines in the city.

In my opinion, it’s a must to try the Scandinavian cuisine while there, so I would pay a visit to the Old Iceland Restaurant, as well as Reykjavík Kitchen.

Icelandic Street Food is a great spot for something quick and tasty, and the Jungle Cocktail Bar is really cool if you want to head out for a few drinks.

Hákarl (fermented shark) is the official national dish of Iceland. While I wasn’t brave enough to try it during my time in Reykjavík, you might be…. 

Happy exploring!